Houston pleased with opener

Dundee United manager Peter Houston was pleased with the run-out despite a narrow 1-0 defeat to experienced Romanian side Unirea Urziceni in their opening pre-season game in Austria.

The Arabs went down to an early goal but took the opportunity of fielding a different team in each half, which meant debuts for newcomers Barry Douglas and Filip Mentel.

"That was a great run out ahead of the new season and going into Europe," Houston told The Courier. "We came for a hard workout and got one which will do us a world of good in terms of finding sharpness.

"Unirea are a quality side, better than us, and they are certainly much more experienced than we are.

"On a positive note we restricted them mostly to long-range efforts which was pleasing although, disappointingly from our perspective, we didn't create a lot," he continued.

"But I was delighted with the workrate and effort of the boys and that was what I wanted from the night."

The Tangerines are next in action against Polish side Arka in Hallein this weekend.